Coming up

The 12th annual Ohio Botanical Symposium, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 5, at Villa Milano, 1630 Schrock Road. Event sponsors include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Nature Conservancy and Ohio State University. Keynote speaker Robert F. Naczi, curator of North American Botany at the New York Botanical Garden, will present "The Flora of Northeastern U.S. and Adjacent Canada." Other speakers include David Brandenburg of the Dawes Arboretum and Eric Burkhart of Penn State University. The symposium will also feature a multi-media show and displays from a variety of private and public conservation organizations and vendors. The $40 attendance fee includes conference materials, continental breakfast, buffet lunch and refreshments during the breaks. Registrations will be accepted until April 2. To register, visit ohiodnr.com/dnap or contact Rick Gardner at 614-265-6419.

Ohio Dominican University, fully bilingual tax return preparation service in Spanish, in Erskine Hall, Rooms 201, 202 and 205 at the university's main campus, 1216 Sunbury Road. Sessions will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays through April 10, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through April 13. Closed March 30, for Easter. Accounting students at ODU will provide free income tax return preparation assistance for qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA offers free tax help to people with low-to-moderate income (generally $50,000 and below). To make an appointment with an ODU VITA tax preparer, call HandsOn Central Ohio at 211 in Franklin County or 614-221-6766 and ask to speak to the VITA scheduler.

AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program assists unemployed Franklin, Delaware and Licking county workers age 55 and over with securing employment. The program offers paid work experience, specialized training, upgrading of skills and job-search assistance. Age, income and residency requirements apply. Call 614-258-7295 or 614-322-0600, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Health

Early Childhood Resource Network, free Child Check developmental screenings for children ages 1 month through 5 years, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 10, at the Northland Church of Christ, 4581 Cleveland Ave. Screenings cover the areas of gross motor, fine motor, speech and language and personal-social skills. A hearing screening is provided along with vision screenings for children older than 3 years. Appointments are necessary and can be scheduled by calling 614-543-9000, ext. 218 or 216.

Columbus Speech & Hearing Center, Huntington Hearing Health Program in partnership with Huntington Bank, offering free hearing screenings from 1 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, Columbus Speech & Hearing Center, 510 E. North Broadway. Screenings will be offered to those ages 5 and older throughout 2013. To schedule appointments, call 614-261-5452.

Workshops and classes

Ask the Expert: Your Resource for Resume Writing, Interviewing, Networking-and More!, a program offered through New Directions Career Center and the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 9 to 11 a.m. April 16, at the Karl Road Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 5590 Karl Road. Participants are encouraged to ask pressing job search and career development question in an event that is open to the public. Private, 15-minute sessions will be offered on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call the New Directions Career Center at 614-849-0028, ext. 100.

For-Mel Women's Club, 7 p.m. April 1, at the home of Jan Howden. Mike Etheridge of the Westerville Antique Mall will provide the program. Each member may bring a small antique item for evaluation. Those unable to attend are asked to call Jan at 614-882-1202.

Lifetree Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays at Meadow Park Church of God, 2425 Bethel Road. Weekly videos, stories and discussions that help build relationships. Topics change weekly and focus on popular life issues. Free; no registration required. Snacks and beverages are available. For more information, contact lifetreecafe@meadowpark.org.

Beaumont Civic Association and Blockwatch, 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the meeting room at the Northern Lights branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 4093 Cleveland Ave. For information, call Donna at 614-261-6521.

Northland Community Council Development Committee, 7 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month at the Northland Performing Arts Center, 4411 Tamarack Blvd. Public hearings on local development, rezoning and related topics. Call 614-325-8217 or email info@myncc.org for more information.

North Linden Area Commission, 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Fedderson Recreation Center, 3911 Dresden St.

Inventors Network discusses the invention process at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at TechColumbus, 1275 Kinnear Road. The meeting fee is $5 for non-members, $36 per year for members. Call 614-470-0144 or visit inventorscolumbus.com.

Clinton Estates Civic Association and Blockwatch, 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month at Trinity United Church of Christ, 1180 Shanley Drive. Call Emmanuel Remy at 614-453-5007.

Salem Civic Association, 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, except for the December meeting which is the third Tuesday, at Salem Baptist Church, 5862 Sinclair Road.

Shipwrights of Central Ohio, a group for ship modelers, 9 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of each month, Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St. For information, visit shipwrightsofohio.org.

American Legion Post 171, 7:30 p.m. and Auxiliary, 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the post, 393 E. College Ave. Guests are invited. Call Mike Etling at 614-891-9388 or Kim Mann (Auxiliary) at 614-266-2695.

Northland Community Council, 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Friendship Village of Columbus, 5800 Forest Hills Blvd. Call 614-325-8217 or email info@myncc.org.

Karmel Morse-Manor Civic Association, 6:45 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Valley Forge Elementary School, 1321 Urban Drive. Call William Logan at 614-846-1089 for more information.

Sharon Woods Civic Association, 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Church of the Good Shepherd, 6176 Sharon Woods Blvd. Call John Kirkpatrick at 614-890-5417.

Northland Kiwanis Club, 6:15 p.m. the second and the fourth Mondays of the month at Friendship Village of Columbus, 5800 Forest Hills Blvd. Call 614-479-3256.

Central Ohioans for Peace, 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave. Visit centralohioansforpeace.org or call 614-436-3531.

New Neighbors League of Columbus, monthly luncheon the second Tuesday of each month, get-acquainted coffee the third Wednesday. Visit newneighborscolumbus.com for meeting times and locations. For information on becoming a member, email nnlcolumbus@yahoo.com.

Support groups

Al-Anon, for friends and families of alcoholics; for meeting information, visit coafg.org.

Pet Loss Support Group, for those mourning the loss of a beloved animal companion, 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at Villa Angela Care Center, 5700 Karl Road. Call Dorothy Hall at 614-895-3416.

Mended Hearts of Central Ohio, a support group for heart patients, caregivers and heart-care professionals, the second Wednesday of every month at the Ross Auditorium at OSU Medical Center, 452 W. 10th Ave. Call Jeff Davidson at 614-580-1561 or visit mendedheartscentralohio.org.

Depression Bipolar Support Alliance of Northwest Columbus, 7 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Meadow Park Church of God, 2425 Bethel Road. Call 614-547-9788. Meadow Park Church of God is not affiliated with the DBSA.

Families In Touch, co-sponsored by North Central Mental Health Services, for family members and friends of teens and young adults with mental illness, 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 1301 N. High St. Call Don Schmidt at 614-299-6600, ext. 2129.

Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group, sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, Central Ohio Chapter, 12:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Gillie Senior Recreation Center, 4625 Morse Road. Open to anyone affected by Alzheimer's disease. Call Marty Cameron at 614-457-6003 before attending the first time to verify the meeting time.

Breast Cancer Support Group, led by a psychologist, social workers and registered nurses. The groups are ongoing; join any time. Call Mount Carmel St. Ann's at 614-898-8517.

Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step program for emotional wellness, meets from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sundays at North Community Lutheran Church, 114 Morse Road; and from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Meadow Park Church of God, 2425 Bethel Road. Call 614-470-0397 or visit emotionsanonymous.org.

Families Anonymous, for parents of those with substance abuse or behavioral problems, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 4131 N. High St. Call 614-885-5199 or 614-875-8695.

Parkinson's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month in the third floor multi-purpose room at the Forum at Knightsbridge, 4625 Knightsbridge Blvd. Call Dodie Wood at 614-481-8888. The April meeting will be held at 2 p.m. April 10, due to special speaking presentation.

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